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System to demonstrate and sell computer programs

  • US 5,166,886 A
  • Filed: 02/12/1992
  • Issued: 11/24/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A vending system for retailing at least one computer program comprising:

  • a retailed computer program;

    a transmitting unit including means for repetitively transmitting said retailed computer program;

    a medium of transmission comprising cable television cable, said transmission medium being in communication with said transmitting unit and carrying said retained computer program repetitively transmitted by said transmitting unit, said transmission medium simultaneously carrying other signals comprising television signals;

    a plurality of computing devices located in domiciles, each of said computing devices including a receiver in communication with said transmission medium, each of said receivers being able to access and receive said retailed computer program repetitively transmitted by said transmitting unit through said transmission medium, and each of said computing devices comprising a processing section able to execute said retailed computer program to provide trail use of said retailed computer program to users of said computing devices in their domiciles, said trial use providing full use of said retailed computer-program;

    a vending program transmitted through said transmission medium to said computing devices, each of said computing devices being able to execute said vending program to provide means for said users of said computing devices to purchase reusable copies of said retailed computer program in their domiciles, said reusable copies of said retailed computer program being adapted for use on one of said computing devices; and

    said vending system including means to prohibit unauthorized duplication of said retailed computer program.

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